GARUT (Indonesia) • Indonesian search and rescue teams yesterday worked to find victims of flash floods that killed 20 people and damaged hundreds of homes, the authorities said.

The floods hit the Garut area, about 200km south-east of the capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday after torrential rain.

"We've reported that we found 20 bodies and we've identified 15 of them," said Ms Endah Trisnawati, a member of a police disaster victims identification unit.

It was not clear how many people were missing, but some officials in the area said it could be up to 15. Some media outlets reported that 20 people were unaccounted for.

The authorities said search and rescue operations would go on.

Military staff and volunteers helped evacuate about 1,000 residents.

Debris floated in receding flood waters in inundated villages. There appeared to be widespread damage to vehicles and buildings.

Flash floods and landslides are common in Indonesia, and are often caused by heavy rain at this time of year.

REUTERS